Attachment-plug receptacle.



G. A. GAUTHIER.

ATTACHMENT PLUG RECEPTACLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22. 1915.,

1,1 59,207. Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

5 vwe wtoz Emma f7. Gm/T/I/ER UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

GEORGE A. GAUTHIER, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE ARROW ELECTRIC COMPANY, NECTICUT.

receptaclesand particularly to a shutter mechanism for the plugging apertures of the receptacle, the object of my invention being to provide a simple and efficient mechanism for closing these apertures against the, entry of dust and dirt when the plug isnotinserted. i

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a broken plan of a receptacle in which my invention is embodied inone form; Fig. 2

is a vertical section therethrough; Fig. 3 is a plan with the upper button'removed but showing the shutter spindle in section; Fig.

. 4 is a diagrammatic section showing in three positions the operation of the shutterspring drawn to a larger scale; Fig. 5 is a perspective of the shutter; and Fig.6 is a perspecvvtive of an attachment adapted to cooperate and 17 respectively with the receptacle shown in Figs. 1 to 3.

In the embodiment of my invention here illustrated, the present receptacle comprises an insulating body 10 having at its opposite ends upstanding ledges 11 onwhich rest theyoke straps 12 secured by the screws 13 and by means of which the receptacle is supported in an outlet box of usual form (not shown) and to which the cover plate 14 is attached by means ofscrews 15. upper face of he insulating body and on the longitudinal axis thereof are spaced apart the ack-receiving spring terminals 16 connected by straps 18 and 19 to the respective binding screws 20 and 21. A..block 22 of insulation, fitting between the ledges 11 and substantially flush.

with the upper faces of the latter, is pierced bv holes 23 and 24 into which the terminals 16 and 17 extend, thus forming separate 1nsulated chambers therefor.

The cover plate 14 overlying the receptadle 27 the axis of which passes through a Specification of Letters Patent.

tions however the I r such that the plane of its apertures 28and shown, a coil 10 through which, as wellas Onthe or HARTFORD, oonnno'rrcum, A CORPORATION or con- ATTACHMENT-PLUG RECEPTACLE.

plane connecting the terminals 16 and 17' at a po1nt mid-way between the latter. T-his dlsk is piercedby perforations 28 and 29 wh1 ch,'-in predetermined position of the disk register with the holes 23 and 24 of the block 22, thus permitting the jacks 30 and 31 of the attachment plug 32 to enter the latter and engage the receptacle terminals 16 and 17 situated therein. 7 t

' disk 26 takes 'a position 29 is at right angles to the plane of the holes 23 and 24 in the block 22, thus closing the latter. The means employed to eflect this movement of the'disk comprises, in the particular embodiment of my invention here spring-33 on the spindle 27, the opposite ends 34,35 of which engage on opposite sides of and extend beyond the brldge piece 36 fast on the spindle and into engagement with the opposite sides of a rib 37 projecting into the well'38 in the body through the block 22, the spindle 27 passes. A washer 39 engages the lower end of the spindle and thus holds the diskagainst longitudinal displacement while at the same time permittlng its free rotary motion.

shutter mechanism is then be pushed home into engagement with the terminals 16: and 17 thereln; In this position the shutter spring 33 has been tensioned since whichever direction it is ro- 35, remains in engagement with the rib 37, while the other spring end has been carried through an arc of 90 byreason of its engagement withlthe bridge piece 36 which is fast on the spindle'27. Obviously when the plug is removed, either intentionally or accidentally, the spring 33 at once returns the shutter disk '26 to its normal position in which the holes 23, '24 of the block 22 of the receptacle are obstructed.

One obvious advantage of the shutter mechanism described lies in the fact that the receptacle terminals 16 and 17 may be H PatentedNov.2',1915. Application filedMay 22,1915. Serial No. 2e, 75e. l

desired to insert the attach-- until Under normal conditated, one or the other of the spring ends 34,

placed 'ver close to the surface of the receptacle, t us-enabling short jacks of the type illustrated in Fig. 6,.to be employed.

These jacks are so short and of. such 'construction that the plug may. be tipped out of the receptacle at substantially any angle and it is not necessary, in order to detach the plug, that it be drawn straight out of the receptacle as is the case in the usual receptacle constructions-in which a shutter mechanism is employed to'obstruct the pluggin aperture.

l arious changes in detail and modifications of the present construction willreadily Suggest themselves to those skilled 'in the art without departing from what I claim as .my invention.

but moving into registry on the rotation of said shutter to permit the jacks of an attachment plug to pass through said shutter into engagement with said receiving terminals, in combination with means to restore said shutter to normal out-of-registry position on the withdrawal of the plug jacks.

3. An attachment plug receptacle, having a pair of receiving termlnals, a rotary shutter common thereto and having a pair of apertures normally out of register therewith but moving into registry on the rotation of said shutter to permit the jacks of an attachment plug to pass through said shutter into engagement with said receiving termi- 'nals, in combination with spring means to restore said shutter to normal out-of-registry position on the withdrawal of the plug jacks.

4.. An attachment plug receptacle having a pair of receiving terminals, a cover plate having an aperture embracing said terminals within its area, a rotary shutter arranged in .saidaperture and having a pair of apertures normally out of register with said terminals but moving into registry therewith on the rotation of said shutter to permit the jacks of an attachment plug to pass through the shutter into engagement with the receiving terminals '5. An attachment plug receptacle having a pair of receiving terminals, a cover plate having an aperture embracing said terminals within its area, a rotary shutter arranged in said aperture substantially flush at its outer acao? face with the outer face of the cover. plate,

and having a pair of apertures normally out of register with said terminals but moving into registry'therewith-on the rotation of said shutter to prevent the jacks of an attachment plug to pass'through the shutter into engagement with the receiving terminals.

6; vAn attachment plug receptaclehaving a pair of, receiving terminals, a rotary shutter common thereto and having free-ways therethrough adapted toregister with said terminals to admit thereto through the shut ter the jacks ofan attachment plug .and means obstructing said free-ways when the shutter is out of register with the receptacle terminals;

7. An attachment plug receptacle having a pair of receiving terminals, a rotary shutter common thereto and having free-ways therethrough adapted to register with said terminals to admit thereto through the shutter the jacks of an attachment plug and insulation overlaid by said shutter and obstructing its free-ways when it is out of register with the receptacle terminals.

8. An attachment plug receptaclecompris ing an insulating body having wells and receiving terminals therein, a rotary shutter having free-ways adapted to register with said wells to admit the jacks of an attachment plug, said shutter normally taking a position in which its freeways are ob-- structed by the body of the receptacle.

9. In an attachment plu receptacle, receiving terminals, a rotary shutter normally blocking access thereto but having apertures registering therewith on the rotation of the shutter, a spring operatively engaging said shutter and the body of the receptacle and normally holding the shutter with its freeways out of register with the receiving terminals.

10. In an attachment plug receptacle, receiving terminals,- a rotary shutter rotatable in either direction on its axis and normally blocking access to the said terminals, said shutter having free-ways adapted to be brought into register with said terminals on the rotation of the shutter and through which the jacks of anattachment plug may be passed into engagement with the said terminals.

11. In an attachment plug receptacle, receiving terminals, a rotary shutter rotatable in either direction on its axis and normally blocking access to the said terminals, said shutter having free-ways adapted to be brought into register with said terminals on the rotation of the shutter and through which the jacks of an attachment plug may :be passed into engagement with the said ter- .minals, in combination with spring means 'for holding said shutter normally in position .to block access to said terminals.

12. In an attachment plug receptacle, a

pair of receiving terminals, a shutter having free-Ways but normally blocking access to said terminals, a coil spring, a member rigid with the shutter-freely engaged between the opposite ends of said spring, and an abutment on the receptacle body also freely -en- 'gaged between theflends of said spr ng,

whereby the shutter is'returned to. its normal obstructing position after its-rotation in'either direction. I

13. In an attachment plug" receptacle, a

pair ,ofreceiving terminals, a ,shutterhaving free-ways but normally blocking access to said terminals, a coil spring, a spindle rigid with the shutter and passing through said spring, a bridge piece on said spindle engaged between the ends of s'aidcoil spring.

' a well in the receptacle body ihQwhichsaidspindle, and a bridge piece engaged between. the opposite ends of said coil spring.

- 15. In an attachment plug receptacle, an insulating body, plug receiving terminals rigid with said shutter, piercing the receptacle body "and secured beneath the same against longitudinaL dis 'lacement, 'and' 'spring means on said spin 1e for normally maintaining the same in obstructing position.

. '16,-.In an" attachment 'plug,:a two-piece insulating body, comprising a base, 'plug-receiving terminals carried thereby, anda block overlying said base and pierced to form "independent" terminal chambers,- in

carried thereby, a shutter normally obstructing access to said terminals, a spindle combination :withha rotary shutter overly?" ing said" blockand apertured to .form freeways ada'p tedito "be-brought into register with said terminals, andmeans to normally maintain said free-ways out of register with said receiving; terminals whereby access tothe latter. is the body of the shutter. 7

- In testi ony whereof I have ,signed name to this specification, in the presence of two Subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE A. GAUTHIER. Witnesses FLoRnNcn H. Gau'rnmn, .BENJ. Pnnxnvs. 

